DHSC Open Consultation | Visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices

The Government have launched an open consultation: Visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices.

View the consultation here

Background and Context

UK Government to legally make visiting a part of care.

There have been concerns about visiting restrictions in health and care settings for several years, and the restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these concerns. 

This consultation seeks views on introducing secondary legislation to protect visiting as a fundamental standard across CQC-registered settings so that no one is denied reasonable access to visitors while they are resident in a care home, or a patient in hospital or a hospice. This includes accompanying people to hospital appointments (outpatients or diagnostic visits). CQC would be able to use civil enforcement powers to address this issue as a breach of standards.

Strengthening the expectation for providers to allow visiting can improve transparency regarding the care being provided and support family, friends, unpaid carers and advocates to provide feedback.

This consultation is regarding visits from family, friends and volunteers such as befrienders and includes accompanying patients attending hospitals. It is not considering access to visiting professionals.

The proposed legislation has the potential to support other work DHSC is doing around patient safety. This has included how patient and carer voices are heard and used to identify risks and failings in care.

What is being proposed?

The proposal is for the new visiting requirement to cover CQC-registered settings. This would include:

  • hospitals - including NHS hospitals (both acute and mental health trusts) and independent sector providers (again, covering both acute and mental health settings). This would also include accompanying patients to outpatient or diagnostic appointments and to emergency departments at hospitals
  • care homes - the requirement would also apply to settings which provide accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, where that regulated activity is being carried out in a care home. This would include care homes for both working age and older adults. CQC also regulate the activity ‘personal care’ in other adult social care services such as supported living and extra care housing. However, these settings generally have ‘exclusive possession’ regarding visiting meaning that individuals can decide who can enter their accommodation, and when.
  • hospices - the requirement would apply to hospice settings providing inpatient palliative and end of life care.

How can you respond?

BASW England members are encouraged to complete the survey questions individually as part of the open survey and to feedback any specific comments via the BASW England inbox: basw@england.co.uk

Please note it will not be possible due to the format of this survey and limited opportunities for free text answers for all comments to be included. We will endeavour to reflect the themes running through comments in the BASW England response.

The closing date for this consultation is: 16.8.2023